Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Let’s call it a Padres/ Mariners World Series
The Padres had a brilliant offseason and have some young talent that should do a better job of blossoming with veteran talent around it. The Mariners were a big bat away from being scary last year.
Let’s get this out of the way right off the bat: The Phillies are not the worst team in baseball.
They are the secondworst team in baseball. Or maybe the worst, who really knows?
What seems certain is that the Phils aren’t going to contend. When the team president is saying it over and over, that’s a pretty solid sign of sad days.
In honor of the Phillies’ low expectations, why not suggest that the best teams in baseball will come from the two cities as geographically distant from Philly as it gets in major sports?
The Padres had a brilliant offseason and have some young talent that should do a better job of blossoming with veteran talent around it. The Mariners were a big bat away from being scary last season, and they went out and got that big bat to go with a pitching staff that will be frightening in a playoff series.
So, that is the call: A Padres-Mariners World Series, with the Mariners winning one more 2-1 game than the Pads. Then expect Rob Manfred to suggest moving the mound back to 65 feet after the TV ratings tank.
30. Twins: The Phillies might be awful this season, but Minnesota has been playing this hard fall from grace for a while now. After averaging 96 losses in each of the last four seasons, the loss of Ervin Santana to a PED suspension might help them get to 100 Ls this time.
29. Phillies: When your spring training is even less encouraging than expectations, and the expectations were practically zero, you’re in big trouble. Maybe an OK bullpen spares them a first 100-loss season in 54 years – maybe.
28. Rockies: Kyle Kendrick, Opening Day starter. The only pressing question is how long Troy Tulowitzki lasts before he lands on the disabled list.
27. Rangers: Texas has the same problems that sent it in a downward spiral last season.
26. Rays: Tampa Bay wasn’t going to be all that good, and a rash of injuries during spring training isn’t going to help matters.
25. Diamondbacks: I really wanted to pick Arizona as a sleeper, then everyone’s arm fell off.
24. Braves: It wouldn’t be surprising at all if Atlanta somehow figured out a way to be mediocre in a year everyone thinks it will be terrible.
23. Mets: Look, they might have a solid rotation if Matt Harvey is really back, but that lineup is truly terrible and the bullpen is not good enough to handle all those close games.
22. Reds: Unless Homer Bailey makes a miraculous recovery, this team is going to hemorrhage runs too often.
21. Athletics: Think this might be a little kind to Oakland. Billy Beane has had a Ruben Amaro Jr.-like run since he dumbly traded away Yoenis Cespedes last summer.
20. Blue Jays: At some point, Jose Bautista is going to collapse from the weight of carrying this team.
19. Astros: So far Houston’s total rebuild has gotten it close to mediocrity. Congratulations.
18. Royals: Not buying that Kansas City is a stable winner. The Royals had an absurdly healthy 2014. It’s tough to assume that happens again.
17. Red Sox: The bench better be really, really good, because there is no way the starting eight is going to survive. The starting rotation is suspect, and Koji Uehara just turned 40 and might start feeling his age.
16. Brewers: Still like Milwaukee’s lineup a lot. It just doesn’t have enough pitching depth to compete.
15. Giants: San Francisco had a brutal spring. The pitching shouldn’t be as bad as it looked, but the defending champs seem destined to continue their tendency to have dud seasons on odd years.
14. Orioles: They have an underrated starting rotation and a terrific manager, but there are too many question marks in the batting order to think they can be better than mediocre.
13. Indians: Cleveland will be good, but being good enough to reach the postseason will depend on whether Michael Bourn still has life in his legs.
12. Marlins: Miami’s hopes depend on Jose Fernandez returning to form. It could steal a wildcard thanks to playing in a garbage division.
11. Angels: It will be tough to have as good of offensive balance against this season, and their soso starting pitching is even more mediocre.
10. Cubs: I want to call this a Top 5 team, but the Wrigley Field mess seems like the type of distraction that will cost a team a handful of wins.
9. White Sox: My pick for Most Improved Team. I think the South Siders are going to mash their way to a lot of wins. The rotation has potential as well.
8. Dodgers: If it weren’t for the fact that they probably will throw money at the problem, the Dodgers’ injury issues with pitchers would be a bigger concern.
7. Cardinals: Jason Heyward was an important addition for a team that needed to add some offense while staying defensively sharp.
6. Yankees: It’s such an unimpressive division, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see New York get after it with some big in-season acquisitions. (Chase Utley?)
5. Nationals: Washington wins the East by default, but that lineup without Anthony Rendon seems pretty pedestrian.
4. Pirates: Imagine that outfield staying together for the next eight years or so. That would be fun to watch.
3. Tigers: Detroit doesn’t have as ridiculous of a starting rotation, but it still has Miguel Cabrera, and Cespedes will make a nasty heart of the order nastier.
2. Padres: Ever get the feeling a team took all the right chances? San Diego has a combination of veterans (Matt Kemp, Justin Upton) and youngsters (Wil Myers, Will Middlebrooks, Jedd Gyorko) with something to prove and the talent to prove it. And the late addition of Craig Kimbrel greatly upgrades the back of the bullpen.
1. Mariners: The rotation is golden. The question is whether Nelson Cruz will have the same pop in Safeco that he had in Arlington and Camden Yards. The guess here is yes. Division winners: N.L. East: Nationals N.L. Central: Pirates N.L. West: Padres A.L. East: Yankees A.L. Central: Tigers A.L. West: Mariners N.L. Wildcards: Cardinals, Dodgers
A.L. Wildcards: White Sox, Angels